Women's Health

Overview

Women's Health Nurse Practitioners (WHNP) focus on providing care for conditions unique to women from menarche through the remainder of their lives as well as reproductive health care for men. WHNPs provide leadership and collaboration in the provision of comprehensive care in a variety of outpatient and acute care settings.

As a doctoral student in the WHNP track, you will:

• Develop skills to influence public policy through participation in professional organizations and health policy activities at the local, national, and global level
• Take courses in evidence-based practice, quality improvement, and systems leadership
• Interact with diverse patient populations
• Participate in Innovative high-fidelity simulation and interprofessional training
• Have the option to complete dual WHNP and Certified Nurse Midwifery specialties concurrently (extends plan of study by one semester)

While we do offer a distance option, our DNP program is not a fully online program. Our Nurse Midwifery and Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner tracks require a significant number of days on campus. The distance option often works best for students living in rural Utah or in nearby states who are within a reasonable driving distance of the University of Utah. On-campus requirements include the following:

• Students attend 5 simulations in each of the 4th, 5th, and 6th semesters in our state-of-the-art simulation center on campus. Simulations are required and in-person only.
• Additionally, our program is partnered with a faculty practice of CNMs and WHNPs in the Salt Lake City area, and starting in the 3rd semester, most clinicals are completed with these preceptors. While distance students may complete some of their clinical shifts outside of our faculty practice, students should plan to complete at least the 3rd and 4th semesters of the program with this faculty practice to build a solid foundation. Most clinical courses require a minimum of 10 clinical shifts.